It continues saying: “…verily He is aware of what they do.

It continues saying: “…verily He is aware of what they do.” It is interesting to note that the Qur’an says that Allah will return to them (the recompense of) their deeds. This is another allusion to the subject of the embodiment of deeds and that the reward and retribution of man, indeed, are his own deeds which will change in form and reach him.

“Therefore stand firm (O Prophet) as you are commanded, and (also) he who has turned (unto Allah) with you, and (O’ men) do not transgress (from the Path); verily He sees well what you do.” The Command of Steadfastness After recounting the lives of the prophets and former tribes and the reasons for their success, and after reinforcing the will of the Prophet (S), thereby in this verse He commands him (S) the most important duty, saying that he must stand firm as he had been commanded.

The verse says: “Therefore stand firm (O Prophet) as you are commanded...” He must stand firm in propagation and guidance, in his struggles and battles, in carrying out Allah’s orders, and in implementing the instructions of the Qur’an. However, this stance must not be for the sake of pleasing others, nor should it be for bigotry, nor for the acquisition of titles, nor for acquiring wealth, position, success and power. It must be for the execution of Allah’s command as he had been instructed.

However, this order does not concern the Prophet (S) only, it also instructs those who are following in his footsteps for approaching Allah. The verse continues saying: “…and (also) he who has turned (unto Allah) with you…” The Qur’an advises the kind of persistence which avoids both extremes, neither more nor less, and the order not to be unruly, signifies the kind of persistence which avoids all kinds of transgression, for Allah is well aware of every action which we do.

No cessation of movement or pause, and word or schedule remains hidden from Him. It says: “…and (O’ men) do not transgress (from the Path); verily He sees well what you do.” This is a sensitive yet disturbing verse. There is a hadith from Ibn Abbas which says: “There is no verse revealed more severe and more difficult for the Prophet (S) than this verse.